My DIY Seat angle fix

[uabcar]

I got my civic last fall, it’s a GG manual EX-L navi sedan. A somewhat unique combo as I found while searching. I was looking for a small car that got good gas mileage. I was coming from a G35 6 speed so I was looking for something sporty with available amenities like leather and navigation.

Overall I love the car - perfect size and economical etc. One thing, however, I didn’t like was that there was no way to adjust the seat bottom angle. You can raise and lower the whole seat but you can’t adjust the front and rear seat heights independently. I had gotten used to the more ‘bucket like’ seats in the G35 and felt like I was going to fall forward out the windshield in the civic (slight exaggeration there but you get the point). The seat bottom was just too flat.

I started thinking about my options and it occurred to me that I could easily resolve my issue by extending the ‘legs’ on the front of the seat- where it attaches to the floor.

I went to HD and picked up a thick piece of metal bar for a few dollars and a couple high strength bolts and locking washers. The most difficult part was cutting the metal bar and putting hole in it for the bolts. As you can see in the pics, this is a very straightforward DIY project. The seat is much more comfortable and with a much more snug fit. You’d be surprised at how much difference the addl 1.5-2” makes.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

When it gets warm again I plan to take them out and paint them black- although to be honest, with where I keep the seat, you’d never notice them.

[.si.love]

not feelin this DIY.

[truflip]

very interesting. hope this DIY doesnt affect safety.

[uabcar]

Originally Posted by truflip

very interesting. hope this DIY doesnt affect safety.

Yup- I thought about that (safety). I’m not sure what the tensile strength of the metal bar is- but it’s certainly a much thicker and heavier piece than the stamped metal on the seat itself. Also, it appears to be more steel vs iron (ie does not seem brittle- it will bend vs break). Based on how hard it was to cut, I would image it’s at least as strong as the points it’s connected to.

I welcome others thoughts on this aspect.

[envy]

hope all goes well with the seat, how long have you had this in now?

[uabcar]

Originally Posted by envy

hope all goes well with the seat, how long have you had this in now?

thanks. 3-4 mths.

[truflip]

more importantly, lets hope you will never have to put them to the test

[BigBird271]

Cool idea! Too bad there is no way to do something simlar but by lowering the seat instead! With my 6'6" lanky butt I would hit the roof with a mod like this! As far as the safety question goes my only consern would be a side impact. In that event those bolts would act more like hinges alowing the front of the seat to move side to side, though I would doubt 1.5" to 2" is enough to cause a problem. Lets hope you never have to find out